About the conference
After two successful Annual Conferences abroad (Vienna 2016 and Edinburgh 2017), the EEB is returning to Brussels for a high-level public conference in the run-up to the crucial European elections in spring 2019.
Europe is at a crossroads. Living within our planet’s limits has been a long stated goal of European environmental policy but it seems further away than ever. The EEB conference will bring together policymakers, politicians and experts to debate, discuss and seek solutions to our most pressing environmental problems and identify environmental priorities for the post-2020 period. It will explore policies and actions needed to make society sustainable including environmental, social, economic and governance issues. This acknowledges that society, and the economy as part of it, can only thrive in the safe space within planetary boundaries.
This timely debate comes as the European Union needs to also set out its own priorities for environmental policy in the coming years through the development of a new Eighth Environment Action Programme and an implementation plan for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The debate comes at a time when the political parties of the European Parliament lay out their vision for Europe ahead of the elections next year.
High-level speakers from the EU institutions, Member States and key stakeholder groups will debate the obstacles which have prevented the EU from fully delivering on the promises of the Seventh Environment Action Programme and seek solutions to ensure better mainstreaming of environmental considerations in future. The Conference is expected to deliver a strong message in the run-up to the 2019 European elections that the environment must be given higher priority during the next five-year cycle than during the present one.
Attendees will get a strong overview of where we need European policy to go over the next decade to meet the goal of living within planetary boundaries. The conference will address horizontal issues such as the impact of growth on environmental degradation and the role of governance and rule of law in environmental protection. We will also have breakout sessions that explore how to meet our climate goals, achieve a non-toxic circular economy and protect the web of life which is our life support system.
Organizer
The organizer gratefully acknowledges the financial support from the LIFE Programme of the European Union and Bruxelles Environnement.
This website reflects the organizers’ views and does not commit the donors.